Back or shoulder rest.



J. KRANZ.

.BACK OR SHOULDER REST. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1913.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Mns/:255,55 /NVEWOR TTOR/VEY JAKOB KRANZ, OF NEUCLLN, NEAR BERLIN, GERMANY.

BACK OR SHOULDER REST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

Application filed March 26, 1913. Serial No. 756,894.

T0 all whom it may concern Be it 4known that I, JAKOB KRANZ, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Neuclln, near Berlin, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Back or Shoulder Rests; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to improvements in back or shoulder rests, and the object of the improvements is to provide a back or shoulder rest which is adapted to be temporarily placed under the shoulder or upper part of the back of a person lying on a sofa, a bed, or the like, and to raise the thorax and thereby to assist in a free and deep breathing of the lungs and to strengthen the muscles of the thorax and the back.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shoulder rest which permits the person using the same to freely move the arms. And finally an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by means of which the person using the saine can massage the back by moving the body on the rest while lying thereon.

lith these and other objects in view my inventionconsists in providing a. rest in the form of a bridge which has a-padded bearing surface corresponding to the form of the upper part of the back and is adapted to be placed under the same, and which has such a length, that the person using the same can freely move his arms downward, the said rest being constructed in such a way, that it does not materially change its height, breadth, length and general form when being used, so that the back is always supported in hollow position.

F or the purpose of explaining the invention several examples embodying the same have been shown in the accompanying drawing, in which the same letters of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts.

In said drawing Figure l, is a side view of the apparatus, Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view of Fig. l, Fig. 3, is a side view of a sofa showing my improved apparatus placed thereon in position for use, Fig. 4, is a side view of a modification of the apparatus, and Fig. 5, is a side view of a further modiiication of the apparatus.

Referring to the example illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2., the back or shoulder rest consists of a sheet metal frame a of comparatively great length and small breadth. In the preferred form the frame is constructed of steel and has but little resiliency. The length of the apparatus is such, that the person using the same can freely move his arms downward. Preferably the said frame is provided on its bearing surface with a soft pad b which however has but little resiliency. The bearing surface or pad is formed in such a way as to correspond to the form of the back, and more particularly it is slightly inclined from its side ends downward and toward its middle, and at a part intermediate its ends, and preferably at its middle, it is formed with a deepened portion c which corresponds to the back bone. By this construction the back finds a uniform support. The lateral parts l of the apparatus a can be made in the form of handles, or they may be provided with such handles, by means of which the person can hold himself when using the apparatus, and if desired the said side pieces may be provided with arm rests such as may be desirable for supporting the arms in reading. As shown, the side members d are inclined downward and outward. Thereby the whole apparatus has a slight elasticity, so that it has a certain softness in use. Instead of the frame work shown in Figs. l and 2 the apparatus may consist of a block of wood or the like.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the manner of using the apparatus. As shown the apparatus is placed on a sofa or the like and in such a position, that the part of the back desired to be treated is supported thereon.

In the example shown in Fig. 4 the apparatus consists of a supporting member e made of sheet metal bent in the form of a U, and the bearing member consists of a strap or a belt f secured to the ends of the Shanks of the supporting member e. The Shanks el are formed with beveled upper margins, so that the belt or strap provides an inclined bearing surface for the back or shoulder. The said strap adapts itself to the form of the back and yet does not clamp or embrace the same, because it is located exclusively below the back and its length is less than the breadth of the back, or so long, that the arms can freely be moved downward.

Instead of providing a rigid bearing member which is resiliently supported, the support may be made rigid and the bearing member resilient, as is shown in FigQG. As shown the bearing member consists of springs Z which are covered by cloth or the like.

In order to prevent the bearing member from turning upside down, I prefer to provide springs c] which have the tendency to hold the bearing memberin normal position.

If desired the bearing member may be provided with heatingr or-oooling means, AWhich are based on the use of Water, eleotricity, sand, ice, or the like. Thereby I am enabled to treat the back with heat and cold.

I claim herein as my invention:

l. In a back or shoulder rest, the combination of a resilient steel frame comprising a flat base portion, upwardly and inwardly inclined end portions and a horizontal upper portion having a transverse depressed portion as its central part; and a cushion on said horizontal portion.

2. In a back or shoulder rest the oombinay tion of a resilient fra-me having inwardly and upwardly inclinedv ends and a horizontal top portion having a central transverse depression; and a cushion on said top portion.

3. In a back or shoulder rest the combination of a flat one piece sheet metal or steel frame substantially continuous between its edges and oomprisinfra bottom portion and inwardly yieldable end portions, and a top portion substantially the same Width as and connecting' the upper ends of said end portions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAKOB KRANZ.

IVitnesses Hmm` RICH RAUcHHoLz, HENRY HASPER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

